Playa Zipolite is located west of Puerto Angel on the Pacific coast in the state of Oaxaca. Nudity is more intrinsic to this beach than to any other beach in Mexico. That's because a hippie encampment was established at Zipolite in the late 60's and early 70's, and nude bathing was naturally part of the culture. Today, the beach retains much of its counterculture flavor. There are lots of cheap, funky dining and lodging establishments along Zipolite, which is a long, broad, sandy beach. As for nudity... well, everything changes. It seems that tolerance for nudity is part of the general ethos, but the practice of nudity is generally limited to specific areas. On the broad, open beach in front of the beach establishments, nudity is not the norm (nor is nudity acceptable in or around the beach shops), but a few intrepid nudists do stroll the entire beach in the buff. Nudity is much more common on the extreme ends of the beach.

One gathering spot for nudists is the far west end of the each (where this placemark is pinpointed), beyond a small rocky outcropping. This part of the beach is often called "Shambhala" since it is near the Shambhala cabanas. Nudity is also the norm at a secluded cove called Playa del Amor, which is at the far east end of Zipolite beyond a small, easily traversed headland. Both areas draw mixed crowds, with Playa del Amor having more of a gay presence. The entire beach is about 1.6 kilometers in length, so it is easy to explore the whole area.

Although nudity is not legal, Zipolite is a safe haven from police harassment. Cops are more concerned with drug use (historically a big part of the culture here) than with nudity. Zipolite is popular with tourists from Germany, Australia, Canada and the U.S. The surf is very rough and swimming is not recommended. Many people have been killed by the strong current, so swimmers are strongly cautioned.

Before you visit Zipolite, read the website tomzap.com, which provides a plethora of information (in English) about transportation, lodging, dining, and more and has links to other useful sites as well.

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: 15.6631N, 96.5232W

city, state, country  Puerto Angel, Oaxaca, Mexico

classification  2 (traditionally nude)

There are 4 placemarks related to this site.